Israelis Blast Church with Invisible Weapon by Alan Philps in Jerusalem, Sydney Morning Hera 2:31pm Tue Apr 16 '02 The Israeli Army is broadcasting ear-splitting screeches and wails at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, traditional site of Jesus' birth, to force out 200 Palestinians besieged there. print article Israelis Blast Church with Invisible Weapon by Alan Philps in Jerusalem, Sydney Morning Herald The Israeli Army is broadcasting ear-splitting screeches and wails at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, traditional site of Jesus' birth, to force out 200 Palestinians besieged there. Getting an earful ... loudspeakers held up near the Nativity Church pump out the noise. Photo: AFP Troops brought in a crane to hoist loudspeakers over the ancient basilica, one of the holiest shrines in Christendom, as part of what one person inside called "psycho terror". One of the noises sounds like a car alarm. Camped outside the church, the army estimates there are about 50 wanted Palestinian militants inside, with clergy and civilians. The Israeli Government offered a deal on Sunday under which the wanted men would be given a choice between permanent exile and trial before a military court. "If they leave, it's for good but, if they stay, then they will have to stand trial in Israel," said a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. The offer was put by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, during talks on Sunday. Palestinian negotiators immediately rejected it, saying the men would not accept exile, and if they were to be judged it should be before a Palestinian court. But they would accept any deal that Mr Arafat approved. In an appeal on Friday the trapped Palestinians called for United Nations intervention to save them from "a slow death". They have been deprived of food for almost two weeks, and the army has shot at Palestinian youths lobbing bags of bread into the compound. "We are hearing loud whistles and screeches in the daytime and now at night," said the Governor of Bethlehem, Mahmoud Madani, who is inside the church. "They want to destroy our morale, but the only solution is a negotiated settlement." The church has responded to the caterwauling by ringing its bells. In a major blow to the Palestinian resistance, Israel last night arrested Marwan Barghouthi, a leader of Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction in the West Bank and regarded by Israel as the top militant in the area, Israeli security sources said. Barghouthi, sought by Israel since it launched a West Bank offensive on March 29, was arrested in the city of Ramallah, the sources said. add your comments

What is realy inside the Nativity Church by Ahmad 3:30am Wed Apr 17 '02 print comment The Church of Nativity is holy place to Christians and Muslims .One of its doors whic was built by a Muslim read"This door was complted with the help of Allah.."The early Muslims agreed with the early Christians that muslims be allowed to pray provided they do not call to prayer with what is called Azan.And the adminstration of the Church was to be in the hands of Christians who unfourtunatly had sometimes deferent disputes among them selves .The Muslims did not fully respect the original agreement but the integrity of the Church was never violated like now by the Palistinian fighters inside and,as well as by the Israeli soldiers out side.There is bizzare activities giong inside along with what is called fighting.These activities are dengerious very dengerous.Any wrong happen to the Church,Sharon and Araft PLO to be blamed. add your comments